Rising from the Ashes (Andrew and Lauren)

Rachel's aggressive tone gave Quinton a strange, unsettling feeling-like his identity as the heir of the Wrights no longer meant anything.

Before coming here, he had already suffered a massive loss at the hands of Mosby and Rafael, barely escaping with his life.

Add to that the bitterness he felt after being forced to call Andrew his godfather, that constant humiliation had been eating him alive. He felt like there was a storm cloud hanging permanently over his head.

The pressure, the frustration, and the endless bruising of his pride all boiled over, and he finally snapped.

He jabbed a finger at Rachel, eyes dark as thunder. "Madam Gardner, you filthy, desperate bitch. Do you really think I'm afraid of you? Let me make it clear-l don't give a flying damn about your so-called 'chairman'.

"And as for those two over there-they're mine now. No one's taking them from me. I don't care if they're just employees at one of your little fast food joints. Hell, even if you get in my way and push me too far, I swear I'll have you tied up and used till you're nothing but a broken mess."

The entire room went dead silent, and everyone stared in shock. They could not believe Quinton had said those words out loud.

Meanwhile, Rachel did not flare up. Instead, she smiled coldly and pulled out her phone.

"Quinton, you just signed your own death certificate."

She dialed with ease. "Mr. Lloyd? Hi, it's Rachel. There's been a situation at one

of my stores. I was wondering if you could come by for a moment?"

Andrew replied flatly, "With your level of influence, I doubt you'd need me to handle something this small."noveldrama

Rachel gave a soft, flattering

chuckle. "A helpless woman like me? Of course, I need your help, Mr. Lloyd. Besides, the one causing troubl@isn't just anyone-it's Blumedale's Wright family's heir. He's in here talking about rape and murder like it's casual lunch conversation."

Andrew's voice dropped a few degrees colder. "The Wrights' heir? Quinton? Alright. Keep him there. I'll be right over to have a little chat with my dear godson."

Rachel purred into the phone, "Perfect. I'll be waiting for you."

Once she hung up, she turned to Christina and Leroy. "You don't have to worry. As long as you work under the Gabo Creek Chamber of

Commerce, you'll be protect no

You never be mistreated-not on our watch."

Christina nodded quickly, almost trembling. "T-Thank you, ma'am."

She had once stood tall as a CEO, but even at her peak, she had never

commanded the presence that Rachel did now.

And the man she answered to? The chairman?

Christina could not even begin to imagine someone more powerful than Rachel_ and soon, he would be walking through that door.

Quinton scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "Madam Gardner, listen to you simping for your new chairman. What is he, some pretty boy toy?"

He laughed crudely. "Honestly, instead of throwing yourself at him, why don't you give me a try? I could be your new backer. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Everyone wins."

Rachel gave him a look of pure

disgust. "Quinton, if I hadn't met our chairman, you might've fooled me Back then, with your suits and your swagger, you almost looked like a real man. But now? Compared to him, you're just a shallow show dog. You're not even fit to shine his shoes."

Quinton's face darkened instantly, rage flashing through his eyes. "Is that so? When I stomp your beloved chairman into the ground, let's see if you're still wagging your tail for him."